Godfrey of Boulogne Summons His Chiefs to Council, c. 1755

Francesco Guardi

Here Guardi portrays an event connected with the liberation of Jerusalem by the Crusaders. Inspired by the Italian poem "Gerusalemme Liberata" by Torquato Tasso, he shows Godfrey de Boulogne summoning his chiefs to decide on the attack and the subsequent election of a leader. Such large-scale, figurative subjects were confined to Guardi's youth. His larger fame derives from his atmospheric and beautifully painted views of Venice.